Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, Virgin Atlantic has placed a firm order for seven Airbus A330neo widebody aircraft. This will bring Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo fleet to a total of 19 aircraft. In Virgin Atlantic fashion the announcement was done rather creatively at the Farnborough Airshow onboard Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo, named ‘Ruby Rebel’, registered GB-VSRB after founder Sir Richard Branson. Deliveries for the additional order are expected to begin in 2027.
Modernizing The Virgin Atlantic Fleet
The new order placed by Virgin Atlantic builds upon an initial order for the A330-900neo placed back in 2019. Currently, Virgin Atlantic operates five A330-900neos with a further three expected to be delivered by the end of 2024. Virgin Atlantic operates the A330-900neo from the United Kingdom to New York, Boston and Miami. The aircraft feature reimagined Upper Class suites and a dedicated social space called the Loft. Virgin Atlantic aims at taking advantage of the A330neos fuel efficiency over the legacy A330-300. Virgin Atlantic will phase out the A330-300 in favor of more quiet and efficient A330-900neos on order. “Today, we complete our multi-billion-dollar fleet transformation, with the purchase of seven additional A330-900s, which we know our customers and our people love to fly. Flying the youngest fleet is the most readily available and significant lever towards decarbonizing long-haul aviation and we are proud to operate one of the youngest and most fuel and carbon efficient fleets across the Atlantic,” said Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic. Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Aircraft, Christian Scherer said, “We are grateful for Virgin Atlantic’s decision to expand its A330neo fleet as part of its strategy to have the youngest fleet across the Atlantic. The A330neo not only delivers unbeatable operational seat mile cost and an exceptional passenger experience, it also greatly enhances Virgin Atlantic’s fleet efficiency and contributes to their sustainability journey. We look forward to continuing this smooth and successful collaboration for many years to come.”